Top-six teams step up chase for Euro spots

Birkirkara vs Hibs
(today at 3 p.m., National Stadium)

Birkirkara will be seeking to continue their unbeaten run under coach John Buttigieg when they square up to Hibernians in this weekend's opening match.

Two victories on the trot have lifted the champions into third place, level on 21 points with Valletta, but the same cannot be said of Hibernians.

After a 2-2 draw with Valletta, the Paolites squandered a one-goal lead to lose 2-1 to Sliema Wanderers. Joint-fifth with Msida St Joseph on 17 points, Hibs need to produce a strong finish to their league trek if they are to force their way back into the qualifying zone for Euro competitions.

Their task of upstaging Birkirkara has been complicated by three of their regular players receiving a one-match suspension, namely Edmond Agius, Andre Rocha Da Silva and Ndubisi Chukunyere.

Striker Terrence Scerri is also ineligible to play for Hibs as he must serve the last of a five-match ban. On the plus side, Adrian Pulis returns after suspension kept him out of the defeat to Sliema.

The one-match ban imposed on Malta midfielder George Mallia will force Buttigieg to make one change from the team that stopped a two-match losing run against Msida with a 3-1 victory in their last encounter two weeks ago.

Left-back Lino Galea is still struggling with a hamstring injury.

Previous results - Birkirkara vs Hibernians 2-3, 3-2.

Valletta vs Msida St Joseph
(today at 5 p.m., National Stadium)

Valletta and Msida St Joseph are bidding for their first win against one another after sharing the spoils in their last two direct meetings.

Both teams have a pressing need to collect maximum spoils not only to boost their chances of booking a place in a European competition next season, but also to make up for their defeats in their last outings.

Paul Zammit, the Valletta coach, must adjust his attacking set-up as captain Gilbert Agius is ruled out by suspension. Serbian defender Branko Nisevic is unlikely to play today after pulling his hamstring during training on Wednesday.

Suspension will also deprive Patrick Curmi, the Msida coach, of a key player as central midfielder Paul Fenech received a one-match ban after the 3-1 loss to Birkirkara.

Curmi is also sweating on the fitness of Ibrahim Babatunde and Ousseni Zongo who are still recuperating from niggling injuries.

Previous results - Valletta vs Msida SJ 2-2, 1-1.

Floriana vs Marsa
(tomorrow at 3 p.m., National Stadium)

A return to winning ways is Floriana's sole objective for their Relegation Pool match with bottom-placed Marsa.

Top of the four-team bottom pool with 15 points, the Greens are favourites to secure Premier League status but they are under some pressure to win and impress against Marsa after a poor display in the 3-1 defeat to Pietà.

Coach Joe Grech is boosted by the return from suspension of Adrian Mifsud but Serbian forward Bojan Spasojevic is injured.

Nine points away from the safety zone, Marsa already have one foot in Division One but coach Edmond Lufi will doubtless urge his players to go down fighting.

Their 1-1 draw with St George's should have raised Marsa's spirits ahead of their delicate match with Floriana.

Previous results - Floriana vs Marsa 4-1, 2-0.